Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday to participate in the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). He will address the forum on the theme “Reflection on 15 years of ADMM-Plus and Charting the Way Forward.”
The ADMM-Plus is the premier defence dialogue platform for the ASEAN bloc, which brings together member nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam — along with eight dialogue partners: India, the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The grouping aims to deepen strategic cooperation and enhance security coordination across the Indo-Pacific.
India has been a dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1992. The first ADMM-Plus meeting took place in Hanoi in October 2010, and since 2017 the forum has convened annually to advance collaborative defence initiatives. Under the current cycle (2024-2027), India and Malaysia co-chair the Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
Bilateral Engagement with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
On Friday, Singh met U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, where the two leaders formalised a landmark ten-year Defence Framework Agreement. The pact, signed in the presence of senior officials, lays out a long-term roadmap to boost military collaboration, enhance capability development and expand joint initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rajnath Singh called the agreement the start of a “new chapter” in India-U.S. defence relations.
“We have held telephonic conversations thrice. I am delighted to be meeting you in person on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus. On this occasion, I feel a new chapter will begin today with the signing of the Defence Framework. I am confident that under your leadership, India-US relations will further strengthen,” Singh said.
Hegseth, while appreciating India’s strategic importance, described the partnership as one of Washington’s most significant.
“I want to express gratitude to Minister Singh for the partnership we have with India. It’s one of the most consequential US-India relationships in the world. Our strategic alignment is built on shared interests, on mutual trust and commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Calling the pact “ambitious”, Hegseth added:
“This 10-year US-India Defence Framework is ambitious. It’s a significant step for our two militaries, a roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead. It underscores America’s long-term commitment to our shared security and our strong partnership.”
The meeting underscored the growing convergence between the two countries as they expand defence cooperation amid evolving regional security dynamics.
